News

Gleanings: April 2016

Important developments in the church and the world (as they appeared in our April issue).

Catalin Petolea / Shutterstock

Porn in the Pulpit and the Pews

At what they claim will be the most comprehensive Christian conference ever on the problem of online pornography, this month Josh McDowell’s ministry and Barna Group will present their survey of how 770 pastors and 2,000 teenagers and adults use porn. Some highlights:

Syria: ISIS releases last of captured Christians

One year after ISIS beheaded 21 Coptic Christians on a Libyan beach, believers celebrated the release of the group that was feared would become the next propaganda massacre. In the wake of the videotaped martyrdoms in February 2015, Islamist extremists kidnapped 230 Assyrian Christians in Syria’s Hasakah province as ISIS quickly captured more territory. After a year in captivity, the final 43 hostages were released. Supporters worldwide donated millions to secure their ransom. The Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organization asked for prayers for healing for the former hostages.

China: House churches defend official churches

The pastor of the 10,000-member, state-approved Chongyi Church was arrested after he protested China’s removal of hundreds of crosses from churches. Most of China’s persecution of Christians has targeted unofficial “house churches,” but a campaign by officials in Zhejiang province to de-Christianize the skyline of “China’s Jerusalem” has affected even official Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches. The silver lining: the growing unity between Three-Self and “underground” Christians. House churches have petitioned in support of official churches, noted David Ro, the Lausanne Movement’s international deputy director for East Asia. “For the first time, house church leaders have crossed the divide to stand beside their former adversaries.”

Gospel for Asia sued over 10/40 Window donations

An Arkansas couple has filed a lawsuit against one of the world’s largest mission agencies, alleging that Gospel for Asia (GFA) used only a fraction of the $115 million it received in 2013 on aiding Christians in the 10/40 Window (the land between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator). Despite fundraising materials that promise 100 percent of donations will be used in the field (primarily India), only about 13 percent were, the lawsuit claims. The couple alleges most of the money was used on administration, a new headquarters in Texas, and a for-profit hospital in India. GFA, which lost its 36-year approval by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability in October, pledged to “respond accordingly and transparently” to the allegations. “We consider it a blessing to finally have the opportunity to bring this matter to full resolution,” said the ministry founded by K. P. Yohannan. “We will come out of this stronger.”

Mexico: Pope quiet on Catholic–Protestant tensions

During Pope Francis’ February visit to the Mexican state of Chiapas, he encouraged its poor, indigenous population in an attempt to bolster sliding Catholic numbers. Like much of Latin America, Chiapas’s Catholic population (now 58%) is shrinking as Protestant churches grow. Francis has welcomed the region’s indigenous-Catholic mix, but didn’t mention the persecution leveled against local Protestants, including cutting off their utilities and expelling them from their homes. While Mexico’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the local autonomy it grants to indigenous people leaves Protestants virtually unprotected.

Judge approves Ark park

The Ark Encounter, a tourist attraction of literally biblical proportions, is entitled to the same tax rebates as non-Christian attractions, a federal judge has ruled. The Kentucky tourism board rejected the Ark’s application because the rebate “cannot be used to fund religious indoctrination” and because its operator, Answers in Genesis (AiG), only hires those who share its beliefs. But the US district judge said the First Amendment guarantees AiG can’t be discriminated against based on its religious beliefs, and that it can hire based on them. The Ark, a 510-foot replica of Noah’s, is set to open in July. A state consultant projected it will attract about half a million visitors in its first year, while AiG projects 1.4 million.

Leaders mull immovable Easter feast

Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox church leaders want to fix the date of Easter—which falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox—to the second or third Sunday of April. Eastern Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian and require that Easter come after Passover, celebrate later than the other churches. Coptic Orthodox Bishop Angaelos believes celebrating together would be a powerful act of unity. Anglican leader Justin Welby would like to see the date fixed within the next 5 to 10 years, but acknowledged that “the first attempt to do this was in the 10th century.”

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Is It Time for American Christians to Disobey the Government?

It Takes a Church to Protest

Pregnant and on Mission in Zika Territory: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

The Data Don’t Lie: Couples That Pray Together Actually Do Stay Together

News

How Pakistani Christians Fleeing Persecution Get Tied Up in Thailand

News

What Arab Christians Think of Muslims' Marrakesh Pledge to Protect Them

Reply All

Testimony

When Altar Calls Don't Work

When the Abortion Doctor I Protested Was Killed by a Sniper

Why Jesus’ Skin Color Matters

'Finally': What the Pope and the Patriarch's Cuba Meeting Meant

Why I’m Not Hoping For Heaven

What an Obscure Old Testament Figure Reveals about Us Gentiles

Editorial

What Reconciliation Sounds Like

Why We Shouldn’t Remove God from the Pledge of Allegiance

Review

Why We Still Need Kierkegaard

Review

How John Piper Knows the Bible Is True

New & Noteworthy Books

Excerpt

Christian Parents: Your Children Need More Than a Bomb Shelter

Defining Evangelicals in an Election Year

View issue

Our Latest

News

Ghana May Elect Its First Muslim President. Its Christian Majority Is Torn.

Church leaders weigh competency and faith background as the West African nation heads to the polls.

Shamanism in Indonesia

Can Christians practice ‘white knowledge’ to heal the sick and exorcize demons?

Shamanism in Japan

Christians in the country view pastors’ benedictions as powerful spiritual mantras.

Shamanism in Taiwan

In a land teeming with ghosts, is there room for the Holy Spirit to work?

Shamanism in Vietnam

Folk religion has shaped believers’ perceptions of God as a genie in a lamp.

Shamanism in the Philippines

Filipinos’ desire to connect with the supernatural shouldn’t be eradicated, but transformed and redirected toward Christ.

Shamanism in South Korea

Why Christians in the country hold onto trees while praying outdoors.

Shamanism in Thailand

When guardian spirits disrupt river baptisms, how can believers respond?

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